Retractible boat carrier or trailer



INVENTOR E TIm;

Ofio J. Wagner p 6, 1958 o. J. WAGNER RETRACTIBLE BOAT CARRIER 0RTRAILER Filed Jan. 18, 1957 United States Patent C F RETRACTIBLE BOATCARRIER R TRAILER Otto J. Wagner, Black Creek, Wis.

Application January 18, 1957, Serial No. 634,885

3 Claims. (Cl. 28040) This invention relates to boat carriers.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a boat carrier whichwill eliminatethe loading and unloading necessary with conventional boattrailers.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a boat carrierof the above type which is adjustable to various sizes of boats andwherein the wheels and struts are easily and quickly retracted into theboat when not in use, or returned to travelling position in or out ofthe water.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a boat carrierbearing theabove objects in mind which is of simple construction, has a minimumnumber of parts, is inexpensive to manufacture and efficient inoperation and use.

For other objects and for a better understanding of the invention,reference may be had to the following detailed description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view thereof shown partly broken away;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. l;and

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 5- 5 of Fig. 3.

Referring now more in detail to the drawing, represents a boat which itis desired to transport, substantially as illustrated.

In the practice of my invention, a pair of longitudinally spacedU-shaped frames indicated generally at 11 are secured within the boat.Each of the frames 11 includes a pair of oppositely disposed L-shapedframe members 12 of angle iron construction which are adjustablyconnected at their inner ends to the angle bars 13 by means of theplates 14 and the bolt assemblies 15, whereby to adjust the frames 11 toboats of varying width. The frames 11 are reinforced by the longitudinalbrace 16 as well as the upwardly and outwardly extending braces 17 whichconnect the vertical portions of the members 12 with the horizontalportions. As shown in Fig. 3, the frames 11 are secured to the boat 10by means of the fastening means 18 and 19 at the sides and bottomcorners of the boat.

A pair of L-shaped bearing members indicated generally at 20 areprovided and each includes a pair of longitudinally spaced L-shapedplates 21 which are connected by a common horizontal plate 22 whichbridges the lower edges of the horizontal portions of the members 21 andwhich is secured to the upper edge of the sides of the boat in suitablemanner. The depending vertical portions of the L-shaped members 21 aresuitably secured to the adjacent vertical portions of the separateL-shaped members 12 'at the top thereof and in such a manner so as topermit the vertical adjustment of the members 20 to ac- 2,852,266Patented Sept. 16, 1958 commodate boats of varying height. The L-shapedmembers 21 are formed with the inwardly extending lugs 23 havinglaterally aligned openings.

A pair of swivel members indicated generally at 24 are provided, each ofwhich includes a pair of laterally spaced L-shaped members 25 which areconnected at their outer ends by the transverse portion 26, the innerdepending ends of the L-shaped members 25 being pivotally mounted on theinner faces of each of the lugs 23 by means of the pin means 27. When inthe operative position, as shown in Fig. 3, the lower edges of thehorizontal portions of the L-shaped members 21 will rest on the plate22, extending outwardly beyond the sides of the boat. The L-shapedmembers 21 and 25 are provided with laterally aligned openings for apurpose which will hereinafter become clear.

As shown in Fig. 2, each of the transverse portions 26 of the swivelmembers 24 at opposite ends fixedly mounts at right angles thereto thedepending hollow cylindrical members 28 and the central hollowcylindrical member 29, the members 28 and 29 being connected by thebraces 30. A pair of tubular posts 31 (Fig. 2) are telescopicallyreceived upwardly within the open lower ends of the members 28 and areconnected at their lower ends by the L-shaped member 32 welded thereto.The member 32 is of U-shaped cross section (Fig. 3) and pivotally mountsthe member 33 by means of the nut and bolt assembly 34-, the free endsof the members 32 and 33 being connected by the nut and bolt assembly 35with a coil spring 36 sleeving the bolt intermediate the members 32 and33. The tension of the spring 36 can be adjusted by means of the nut andbolt assembly 35, as will be obvious.

An internally threaded, cylindrical member 37 is fixedly mounted at thecenter of each of the members 32 for example by means of welding and istelescopically received upwardly within each of the members 29 (Fig. 2).At each side of the structure an externally threaded stud 38 (Fig. 2)has its lower end screwed into the upper end of a member 37 and theupper end thereof passes upwardly through. and is rotatably mounted inthe transverse portion 26 of a swivel member 24, being provided at itsupper end with a crank handle 39. Thus, by rotating the cranks 39, themembers 31, 37 and their associated parts may be raised and loweredrelative to the members 28 and 29. A hearing member 40 (Fig. 2) isadjustably mounted on the upper surface of each of the members 33 bymeans of the nut and bolt assemblies 41 and rotatably mounts the shafts42 by means of which the wheels 43 are rotatably mounted on the outsideof the members 32 and 33.

Means are provided for locking the wheel assemblies in the operativepositions of Figs. 2 and 3 and include the provision on each of thetransverse plates 22 of the bearing members 20 of a circular cam plate44 which is rotatably mounted at the center thereof by means of the pin45, each of the cam plates 44 being provided with a pair of arcuateslots 46 (Fig. 1). A pair of longitudinally aligned, oppositely disposedtubular members 47 are fixedly mounted on each of the plates 22 andserve as guides for the pins 48 which are formed at their inner endswith the bifurcated portions 49 which are pivotally mounted within theslots 46-by means of the pins 50 (Fig. 4). Each of the plates 44 isprovided with a handle 51 (Fig. 1) whereby to rotate the same and tothus move the pins 48 into and out of engagement with the alignedopenings provided in the members 21 and 25, whereby to lock the swivelmembers 24 in the operative position and to permit their release whenthe cam plates are rotated to draw the pins 48 inwardly and thus permitthe rotation of the wheel assemblies to the position shown in phantom inFig. 3 within the boat, when not in use. When thus released, the wheelassemblies may be rotated manually into the boat.

It should be apparent that there has been provided a boat carrier whichis designed to eliminate the loading and unloading necessary withconventional trailers and which is adjustable to various sizesof boats.The wheels and struts are easily and quicklyretracted into the boat orreturned to the travelling position in or out of the water.

While various changes may be made in the detail construction, it shallbe understood that such changes shall be within the spirit and scope ofthe present invention as defined by the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent of theUnited States is:

l. A boat carrier comprising a pair of U-shapedframe members fixedlymounted within: the-boat and. in longitudinally spaced relationship toeach other, a bearing member mounted within the upper ends of.saidframes, and bridging the same, aswivel member rotatably mounted atits inner end on each of said bearing members and adapted to rest acrossthe upper edge of the boat in a substantially horizontal position when.in the operative position and adapted to be rotated inwardly anddownwardly through substantially ninety degrees when not in theoperative position, a pair of longitudinally spaced, hollow cylindricalmernbersfixedly mounted at the outer ends of said swivel members atright. angles thereto and extending downwardly on the oneness the boatin a substantially vertical position when, theswivel members are in theoperative position, a pair-of tubular members telescopically receivedwithin the open lower.

ends of said hollow cylindrical members and-adjustable;

relative thereto, meansfor adjusting the position-manually of saidtubular members relative to said hollow cylindrical members, a pair ofwheels, means rotatably'mounting each of said wheels at the lowerends=of said. tubular members, and releasable means for lockingvsaidswivel members in the operative position and to, permit their releaseand rotation to the inoperative positions to carry therealong the hollowcylindrical members, tubular members and wheels into the boat, saidmeans for rotatably mounting the wheels at the lower ends of saidtubular members comprising an L-shaped member secured to the lower endsof said tubular members and bridging the same, a second member pivotallyconnected to the dependingportion of said L-shaped member and extending.

therebelow, a bearing membermountedon each otythe lower members, andaxle means within each of said bearing members rotatably mountingsaid'wheels, the free ends of said. L-shaped andlower members beingcon.-

nected by a nut and bolt assembly, and acoilspring 5 sleeving said nutand bolt assembly intermediate the L-shaped and lower members whereby toadjust the tension of said spring.

2. A boat carrier according to claim 1, said means for raising andlowering the tubular members relative to said hollow cylindrical memberscomprising a central hollow cylindrical member secured to and dependingfrom the outer end of said swivel member, an internally threadedcylindrical member secured to said L-shaped member and beingtelescopically received within said central hollow cylindricalrnember,an externally threaded stud screw threaded into said internally threadedmember and extending upwardly through said central hollow cylindricalmemberthe 'upperend ofsaid-stud being rotatablymounted in said swivelmember and extending upwardly therethrough and a crank arm connected tothe upper end of said-stud whereby to rotate the same.

3. A boat carrier according to claim 2, each of said bearing membersincluding a pair of L-shaped members secured to the upper ends of saidU-shaped frames and connected along their lower edges by horizontalplate supported on theupper edge of'the boat,-each of said swivelmembers comprising apair of longitudinally spaced, L'-shaped plateshaving the inner depending portions pivotally connected to said lugs andsupported on said horizontalplate when in the operative position andextending outwardly therebeyond, and a transverse member connecting theouter ends of said swivel member L'-shapedplates, said transverse memberfixedly mount ingsaid depending hollow cylindrical members, said bearingmember and swivel member L-shaped members having laterally alignedopenings when said swivel member is in the operative position,- acircular cam plate rotatably mounted on each of 'said horizontal platesand having oppositely disposed arcuate slots, a pair of oppositelydisposed, longitudinally aligned sleeves fixedly mountedon'the'horizontal plate inwardly of said bearing member L'-shapedmembers and aligned longitudinally with the openings therein, and a pinslidable within each of said tubularmembers and extendable outwardlythrough the aligned openings in said bearing member and swivel memberL-shaped members, the inner ends of said pins being formed'with'bifurcated portions and being pivotally mounted. within said slots-bymeans of pins passing therethrough, whereby upon rotation of said platesthepins will be drawn inwardly to release said swivel member, anda'handle connected to each of said plates.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNlTED STATES PATENTS2,421,671 West June3, 1 947 21480309 Davis Sept; 6, 1949 2,578,376 SmithDec. 11, 1951

